Liquid cooler



April 18, 1950 R. c. ANDERSON LIQUID COOLER 2 sheets-sheet 1l Filed June 17, 1946 alg llllllh fl ozNE Y April 18, 1950 R. c. ANDERSON LIQUID COOLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1946 Patented Apr. 18, 1950 UNITED STATI-:s PATENT OFFICE LIQUID CUOLEB Richard C. Anderson, Madison, Wis. I Application June 17, v1946, Serial No. 677,251

l 11 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus adapted for dairy purposes. although it is not necessarily limited to such purposes.

Refrigeration apparatus diiers for various particular or speclc applications. For example, in the conventional household refrigerators, the refrigeration is provided by means of an evaporator coil positioned within the storage chamber. In other commercial types of installations, such as refrigerated trucks, the evaporator coil is positioned within an eutectic plate which is mounted in the chamber. In a further type of refrigeration apparatus two chambers are employed, one chamber being maintained at relatively low temperatures by means of an evaporator coil and the other chamber being maintained at higher temperatures by means of a secondary unit. The secondary unit consists of a closed system having its evaporator or equivalent coil in the high temperature chamber and a condensing or equivalent coil mounted in contact with the evaporator coil of the primary unit or having a highly heat conductive connection between the condensing coil of the secondary system and the evaporator coil of the Primary unit.

These prior art systems are not entirely satisfactory for many purposes. 'Ihe household type apparatus has an extremely limited and low hold over capacity and a large volume of material can not be rapidly cooled to a low temperature because of the limited capacity of the evaporator coil. Similar disadvantages obtain in the latter of the aforementioned types of apparatus. In the case of the apparatus including an evaporator coil positioned in an eutectic plate, there is an appreciably higher hold over capacity, but the capacity is somewhat limited because the primary system is not operable until substantially the A entire capacity of the eutectic plate is Iexhausted.

The principal purpose of this invention is to provide refrigeration apparatus having an instantaneous capacity appreciably higher than that of the prior known systems.

A further object of this invention is to provide refrigeration apparatus particularly adapted for dairy purposes.

Another object of this invention is Yto provide a refrigerator which is particularly adapted for rapidly and uniformly cooling milk and other liquids and maintaining such cooled liquids at desired temperatures.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description and claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1. is a perspective view oi' a refrigerator constructed in accordance with my invention and particularly adapted for rapidly cooling liquids such as milk and maintaining the cooled liquid at desired temperatures.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly diagrammatic,

. of the refrigerator of Fig. 1, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the refrigerator taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.'

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the milk or liquid `cooling tray or pan illustrating a removable baiile member position in the pan.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a strainer adapted for filtering the liquid and for introapplication of the refrigerator and the temperatures desired. The temperature of the chamber and the operation of the refrigerant compressor may be regulated by a thermostatic control in a manner well known to the art. The ilow of refrigerant to the evaporator or expansion coil may be regulated by an expansion valve or a capillary tube o'r conduit as is well known to the art. The operation of the primary refrigeration system or unit is not dependent upon the condition of the eutectic plate, that is, the primary unit becomes operative before the capacity of the eutectic plate has been utilized. This type ofrefrigeration apparatus when constructed pursuant to my invention is particularly well suited for rapidly cooling relatively large volumes of materials because of the large instantaneous available capacity.

The refrigerator illustrated in the drawings consists of two contiguous sections or compartments I and 2. The section I constitutes a housing 3, preferably formed of sheet metal side walls I, end wall 5 and top wall 6 and a base 1. The base 'l is preferably rigidly secured tothe section 2 while the housing 3 is preferably readily removable to afford free access to the operating mechanism. A refrigerant compressor 8, a driving motor (not shown), a condenser l9 and a refrigerant collector l0 are mounted on the base I. The evaporator coil Il is mounted on a panel l2 which forms a portion of an insulated wall of the section 2. The panel is supported above the base 1 by means of brackets I 3 secured to the base and extending upwardly. The evaporator coil is connected with the compressor 8 by means of conduit I4 and with the refrigerant collector I0 by means of conduit I5. A fan I6 is positioned behind the evaporator coil and the driving motor I1 is mounted on the opposite or outer side of the panel I2. The side walls 4 and end wall 5 are preferably formed with louvers I8 to provide the necessary ventilation and flow of cooling air around the compressor and through the condenser 9.

Compartment 2 is provided with insulated walls so as to provide a cooling or refrigeration chamber 20.' The front wall 2I is provided with suitable openings 22 to afford access to the refrigeration chamber. The openings are closed by doors 23. The wall 24 is provided with an opening 25 adapted to receive insulated panel I2. Brackets i3 exert suiiicient force so that panel I2 is held securely against wall 24 and seals the opening 25 to prevent leakage of air through the opening.

The top wall 26 is provided with an extensive opening 21. An insulated cover or closure .28 is provided to close the opening and is provided with handles 29 to permit easy removal and replacement of the cover. An aperture 30 is provided in the cover adjacent one end of the cover and an insulated plug 3| is adapted to close the aperture.

The construction of the insulated walls, doors, cover and the like form no part of this invention and conform to standard practice. Sealing means may be provided on the doors as is usual. It is apparent that the insulated walls are shown diagrammatically for illustrative purposes.

An eutectic plate 32 is positioned within the refrigeration chamber 20 adjacent the top of the chamber and beneath the opening 21. The plate may be supported by suitable angle members 33 secured to the walls of the chamber. The eutectic plate need not be secured to the angle members so as to permit its easy removal. The specic construction of the eutectic plate forms no part of this invention and it is shown diagram- `rnatically. The opening 21 is preferably somewhat larger in area so as to permit the ready placement and removal of the eutectic plate in and from the refrigeration chamber. The specications for the eutectic mixture will vary dependent upon the specific temperature desired for storage of the particular material.

A tray or shallow tank 34 is supported or mounted on the eutectic plate 32 under the opening 21 in the top wall of the refrigeration chamber. The tray is somewhat smaller in area than the opening 21 so as to permit placement and removal of the tray in and from the refrigeration chamber. An outlet conduit 35 is provided which connects with a thermostatically controlled valve 36 whereby the -iiow of liquid from the tray is arrested until its temperature has been reduced to a predetermined point. The tray is mounted in such position that its base slopes slightly toward the discharge end or corner. It is apparent that the thermostatic element should be thermally insulated from the tray so that only the temperature of the liquid will aifect the operation of the valve. It is obvious that if the chamber has been maintained at a desired low temperature, the thermostat may open the valve. If liquid is then poured into the tray its temperature may be sumcientlyhigh so as to close the valve until such time as it is cooled to the desired temperature at which time the valve will again be opened.

A discharge conduit 31 is rigidly mounted on the valve housing and is preferably provided with a swivelled or rotatable spigot 38 so as to permit several containers, such as milk cans 39, to be filled with the cooled liquid Without moving the containers.

In the use of the refrigerator `for the cooling ofy milk, for example, the cover 28 may be removed and the milk poured into the pan 34 in which it is cooled to a predetermined temperature and then permitted to now into the selected container 39. It is apparent that it is not necessary to include a thermostatically controlled valve and the flow of the liquid may be regulated manually so as to obtain the desired or necessary rapid cooling.

I prefer to insert a baiiie member or unit in the tray or pan 34, as shown in Fig. 4. This unit consists of a plurality of baille plates 40 preferably spaced along and rigidly secured to two or more lrods or bars 4I. The baille members extend from side to side of the pan and the rods or bars extend from end to end of the pan. The baille u nit is removable so as to permit ready emptying of the pan and easy removal of the baille unit for cleaning purposes. The height of the baille members decreases from one end toward the discharge end of the tray. The milk or other liquid is poured into the section of greatest depth and the overflow from one section to the next thereby promotes turbulence so as to eiiect an increase in the rate of cooling. The tray may be emptied after all the liquid has been poured into the tray by raising or removing the baille unit.

In the use of the refrigerator for cooling milk, it is desirable to strain or filter the milk. A strainer 42 may be provided, its spout being received by aperture 30 in the cover 28. For liquids not requiring filtration, a funnel may be provided having a spout which is adapted to fit into the aperture. By the use of such strainer or funnel, it is not necessary to remove the entire cover 28 when pouring the liquid into the tray or pan 34.

The particular advantageous feature of the refrigerator of this invention is its higher instantaneous capacity or capacity which is immediately available. As warm liquid or material is placed in the refrigeration chamber, the temperat-ure of the atmosphere therein rises and the primary refrigeration unit becomes' operative immediately. Heat is thereby extracted or absorbed by both the evaporator coil II and the eutectic plate 32. Thus the capacity of both refrigerator units is immediately available. The higher instantaneous capacity of this type of refrigeration apparatus is especially suited for the cooling of milk which should preferably be cooled from about 98. F. to about, 50 F. in about 30 minutes. The high instantaneous capacity permits such cooling of relatively large volumes of milk in the required period of time.

The advantages with respect to the r-ate of cooling over the usual conventional system in which the evaporator coil is mounted or positioned within the eutectic plate may be illustrated by reference to certain experimental results. A refrigerator constructed in accordance with this invention was permitted to remain open to the room atmosphere for a period of about 16 hours. The doors were closed and the primary refrigeration system set in operation. The temasoma perature of the atmosphere within the chamber was decreased from about 72 l". to about 30 F. in about 1 hour. The evaporator coil and eutecticplate were then removed an a conventional assembly of an eutectic plate. with about the same capacity as that of the i'lrst eutectic plate, having an evaporator coil mounted therein were installed. The refrigerator was allowed to remain open for about 16 hours. The doors were closed and the primary system started. 'I'he temperature of the atmosphere within the chamber was decreased from about 72 F. to about 30 I". in about 4 hours. Similarly, when a large volume of relatively warm liquid is placed within the refrigeration chamber, the temperature of the liquid is reduced more rapidly where the eutectic plate is not connected to the evaporator coil by means of a highly conductive connection or the evaporator coil is positioned or mounted within the eutectic plate. For example, where the refrigeration chamber is at the desired temperature at the time the milk is placed in the chamber, milk in conventional type cans may be cooled at least to about 20% faster in a refrigerator having no highly conductive connection between the eutectic plate and the evaporator coil.`

'I'he refrigeration apparatus of this invention has further advantages over the conventional refrigeration apparatus in which the evaporator coil is positioned within the eutectic plate. In

the apparatus of this invention, the temperature of operation may be readily altered to suit parload in the refrigerator.

that-the primary system has a capacity of 1500 t. u. per hour and that the eutectic plate has a capacity of 5000 B. t. u. The available capacity upon placing a load in the refrigeration charnber is 6500 B. t. u. the first hour. In the apparatus of this invention. the primary system becomes operable almost immediately upon placing the In the conventional system wherein theevaporator coil is positioned within the eutectic plate, substantially only the capacity of the eutectic plate becomes immediately available and the primary system becomes operable only after the capacity of the eutectic plate has been exhausted. this capacity is exhausted, the primary system becomes operable and first removes a substantial amount of heat from the eutectic plate without lowering its temperature and without removing heat from the material to be cooled and then reduces the temperature of the eutectic plate or mixture without removing any appreciable heat from the material to becooled and becomes inoperable. Heat is then absorbed by theeutecticplateandthe cycle repeated. In my system, heat is-removed continuously by the primary system from both the load and the eutectic p lateand there is'not a lag in the-operation kof the primary system.

This theory of operation is oiIered asa possible explanation for the un ted Vdifferences in rate of cooling between the refrigeration apparaf tus .of this invention and the conventional reticular'conditions byv changing the eutectic plate without replacing the evaporator coil and by changing the regulation of the primary system. In the apparatus in which the evaporator coil is mounted within the eutectic plate, the alteration of the operating temperature .requires disconnecting the evaporator coil, removing the eutectic plate and evaporator coil and inserting a different eutectic plate with its evaporator coil. This change introduces considerable diiliculty in loss of refrigerant and introduction of moisture from the atmosphere into the primary system.

The mounting of the evaporator coil on panel I2 permits ready removal of the primary unit for service or replacement. This type of construction permits removal of the primary unit for shipment to the manufacturer and the installation of a new or replacement unit. In apparatus of this type, the cabinet, refrigeration chamber,

eutectic plate and liquid receiving tray will constitute from about 60% to 70% of the total weight and the replaceable primary `unit thus constitutes a small part of the weight for shipment or handling forservice purposes. l

The refrigerator of this invention has the fur ther advantage over the usual type of household refrigerators in its large hold-over capacity due to the presence of the eutectic plate, and this capacity is dependent upon the size of the plate and the particular eutectic mixture within they plate. If desired, this holdover capacity may be further increased by placing one or more additional eutectic plates in the refrigeration chamber, for example by securing such additional plates to the walls of the chamber as illustrated by the plate 43 shown in broken lines in Fig. 2.

The refrigeration apparatus of this invention permits a more rapid cooling of relatively large volumes or masses with a relatively small primary system. 'Ihe power requirement over a 24 hour period for the refrigerator of this invention is, of course, substantially identical to that of the conventional systems. As an illustration, assume -frigeration apparatus employing eutectic plates having mounted within p the plates evaporator coils. This possible` explanation is not intended as a limitation of the invention.

It is apparent that the foregoing descriptlon'is intended for illustrative purpose and thatvarious modifications may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. r

I claim:

l. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising. in combination, an insulated chamber, a refrigerant evaporator positioned within the chamber, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on 'the eutectic plate and an outlet for the tray.

2. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, an insulated chamber, a refrigerant evaporator mounted within the chamber and on one wall thereof, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate. an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the chamber having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated closure for the opening.

3. A refrigerator `arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combinatioman insulated chamber having at least one opening in one side wall thereof to permit access to theinterior of the chamber, an insulated closure for the opening, a removable panel in another side wall of the chamber, a refrigerant evaporator mounted within the chamber on the removable panel, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mountedon the eutectic plate, an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the insulatedchamber having an opening therein above the tray and being substantially coextensive with the tray, an insulated closure for the opening in the top wall,

7 the last named closure having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated plug 'for the opening in the last named closure. y

4. A refrigerator, arranged for coolingl liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a rst section comprising a'housing containing a refrigerant compressor anda refrigerant condenser, and a second section including an insulated chamber, a refrigerant evaporator positioned within the chamber and connected to the refrigerantv compressor and refrigerant condenser, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving trayl mounted on the eutectic plate and an outlet for the tray.

5. A refrigerator arrangedfor cooling liquids, comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a first section comprising a housing containing a refrigerant compressor andpa refrigerant condenser, and a second section including'an insulated chamber, a refrigerant evaporator mounted within the chamber on one wall thereof and connected to the refrigerant compressor and refrigerant condenser,` an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the lrefrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the chamber having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated closure for the Opening.

6. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a first section comprising a housing containing a refrigerant compressor and a refrigerant condenser, and a second section including an insulated chamber having at least one opening therein in one side wall thereof to permit access to the interior' of the chamber, an insulated closure for the opening, a removable panel in another side wall of the chamber, a lrefrigerant evaporator mounted within the chamber on the removable panel, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the insulated chamber having an opening therein above the tray and being substantially coextensive with the tray, an insulated closure for the opening in the top wall, the last named closure having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated plug for the opening in the last named closure.

7. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a first section including a base rigidly secured to the second section, a refrigerant compressor and a refrigerant condenser mounted on the base, and a housing mounted on the base and a second section including an insulated chamber, a refrigerant evaporator positioned within the chamber and connected with the refrigerant compressor and the refrigerant condenser, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate and an outlet for the tray.

8. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a first section including a base removably' secured to the second section, a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser and upwardly extending brackets mounted on the base and a tion including an insulated chamber, a removable panel in the side wall contiguous to the rst section and secured lto the upwardly extending brackets whereby the panel may be removed from the wall with the base, a refrigerant evaporator mounted on the panel withinthe chamber and connected to the refrigerant compressor and the refrigerant condenser, an eutectic plate mounted within the chamber and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the chamber having an opening therein above the tray and an insulatedclosure for' the opening.

9. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections. a first section including a base removably secured to the second section, a refrigerant compressor, .a refrigerant condenser and upwardly extending brackets mounted on the base and a housing secured to the base, and a second section including an insulated chamber having at least one opening in one side wall thereof to permit access to the interior of the chamber, an

. insulated closure for the opening, a removable panel in the side wall contiguous to the rst section and secured to the upwardly extending brackets whereby the panel may be removed from the wall with the base, a refrigerant evaporator mounted on the panel within the chamber and connected to the refrigerant compressor and the refrigerant condenser, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, an outlet for the tray, the top wall of the chamber having an opening therein above theA tray and being substantially coextensive with the tray, an insulated closure for the opening in the top wall, the last named closure having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated plug for the opening in the last named closure.

10. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, two contiguous sections, a first section including a base removably secured to the second section, a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser and upwardly extending brackets mounted on the base and a housing secured to the base, and a second section including an insulated chamber having at least one opening in one side wall thereof to permit access'to the interior of the chamber, an insulated closure for the opening, a removable panel in the side wall contiguous to the first section and adjacent the top of the side wall andsecured to the upwardly extending brackets whereby the panel may be removed from the wall with the base, a refrigerant evaporator mounted on the panel within the chamber and connected to the refrigerant compressor and the refrigerant condenser, a. fanl blade positioned between the refrigerant evaporator and the panel and being adapted to be driven from the opposite side of the panel, an eutectic plate positioned within the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced from the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, a baille plate unit positioned within the tray, an outlet for the tray, the outlet terminating in a swivelled spigot, the top wall of the chamber having an opening therein above the tray and being substantially coextensive with the tray, an insulated closure for the opening in the top wall,

housing secured to the base, and a second sec- 7i the last named closure having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated plug for the opening in the last named closure.

11. A refrigerator arranged for cooling liquids comprising, in combination, an insulated chamber having at least one opening in one side wall thereof to permit access to the interior of the chamber, an insulated closure for the opening, a. removable panel in another side wall of the chamber, a refrigerant evaporator mounted within the chamber on the removable panel, an eutectic plate positioned within'the chamber adjacent the top wall thereof and spaced form the refrigerant evaporator, a liquid receiving tray mounted on the eutectic plate, an outlet for the 10 tray, the top wall of the insulated chamber having an opening therein above the tray and an insulated closure for the last mentioned opening.

RICHARD C. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

